India says ‘closely monitoring’ situation between Afghanistan and Pakistan

India is closely monitoring the ongoing tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday.

Briefing reporters in New Delhi, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal asserted that Pakistan continues to host terrorist organisations and sponsor cross-border terrorism. He added that it has been a long-standing practice of Pakistan to “blame its neighbours for its own internal failures.”

Jaiswal said Pakistan’s recent reactions reflect its frustration over Afghanistan exercising sovereignty over its own territories, reaffirming that India remains fully committed to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of Afghanistan.

On questions regarding the upgrade of India’s diplomatic presence in Kabul, the spokesperson said that the Technical Mission, which has been operational in the Afghan capital since June 2022, will soon transition into a full-fledged Embassy. He confirmed that the transition will happen in the next few days.

Afghanistan and Pakistan engaged in clashes recently, in which hundreds of people were killed and injured.